Machine for distributing concrete material



Sept. 26, 1967 J. E. lNGLE 3,343,469

MACHINE FOR DISTRIBUTING CONCRETE MATERIAL Filed Aug. 19, 1965 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG- I 25 /5 m- IWM' INVENTOR. JAMES E, INGLE AITQR N EYS Sept. 26, 1967 J. E. INGLE MACHINE FORDISTRIBUTING CONCRETE MATERIAL Filed Aug. 19, 1965 FIG-3 FEE . 5 w/ 4 1 E W I s/ 3 In J 4 =22 w W 1 l Z 4 u M G l F V ATTORNEYS w 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 71 v m6 M W VN T N T x 1 1 0 1E A 5 5 w 9 6\Im 1!: M m

Sept. 26, 1967 J. E. INGLE MACHINE FOR DISTRIBUTING CONCRETE MATERIAL Filed Aug. 19, 1965 Sept. 26, 1967 J. E. INGLE MACHINE FOR DISTRIBUTING CONCRETE MATERIAL 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Aug. 19, 1965 INVENTOR. JAMES E.|NGLE mmrfiy BY W ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,343,469 MACHINE FOR DISTRIBUTING CONCRETE MATERIAL James E. Ingle, Tell City, Ind., assignor to Maxson Construction Company, Inc., Dayton, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Filed Aug. 19, 1965, Ser. No. 480,862 3 Claims. (Cl. 9446) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A concrete distributing machine having a frame connected to a pair of parallel spaced rails each supporting an independently driven articulated track directed around forward and rear sprockets mounted on the rail. An elongated hopper supported by the frame for traversing movement between a pair of parallel spaced slip forms connected to the rails, and a snub roller positioned adjacent each sprocket to produce a reverse curve in each track for directing the upper reach of the track close to the lower reach and thereby provide space above each track to position the hopper for direct loading from a concrete supply dump truck while minimizing the overall length of the machine.

This invention relates to paving equipment for road and highway construction and the like, and more particularly, to an improved machine for spreading concrete material along a prepared roadbed to form concrete pavement of predetermined thickness without requiring the pre-erection of forms on the roadbed.

The present invention has special relation to a spreading or distributing machine of the type shown in US. Patent No. 3,043,201 which is assigned to the same assignee as the present invention. Basically, these distributing machines are adapted to receive concrete which has been prepared at a central mixing plant and is hauled to the spreading machine by suitable trucks, such as those described in US. Patents Nos. 2,465,889 and 3,101,974. Thus the mixture of the concrete can be controlled with accuracy at the central plant it so desired.

While the machine shown in the above mentioned Patent No. 3,043,201 is adapted to be supported on forms which have been pre-erected along the roadbed or subgrade, the present invention is directed to a crawler-type machine which employes slip-forms and thus eliminates the requirement of pre-erecting stationary forms along the roadbed.

A primary object of the present invention is to provide an improved machine for distributing flowable materials, including premixed concrete, along a prepared roadbed between forms carried by the machine, such that the material is forced against the forms in such manner that the concrete density is increased adjacent the forms and thus will not slump after the machine and forms are moved forward.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved crawler-type concrete distributing machine which has a low overall side profile for receiving centrally mixed concrete directly fiom supply trucks adjacent either side of the machine so that the trucks do not have to cross the prepared roadbed.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a slip-form concrete distributing machine which is adapted to distribute concrete in layers or lifts whereby the bottom layer is held short of the forms and serves to space reinforcing steel while the overlaying top layer is pushed firmly against the forms resulting in a uniform and consistent mixture of concrete in contact with the entire area of the slip-forms.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a crawl- 3,343,469 Patented Sept. 26, 1967 er-type concrete distributing machine as outlined above which includes a hopper adapted to traverse back and forth across the roadbed and to extend outwardly above the crawler tracks to provide for convenient and direct loading of the hopper from supply trucks.

A further object is to provide a machine as outlined above which provides versatility in that concrete can be distributed either between slip-forms carried by the machine or between forms pre-erected on the roadbed.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description, the accompanying drawings and the appended claims.

In the drawings FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a distributing machine constructed in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the machine shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the machine;

FIG. 4 is a front elevational view of the machine;

FIG. 5 is an elevational section View as seen along the line 5-5 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is an elevational section view as seen along the lines 66 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 7 is an elevational section view as seen .along the line 77 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged side elevational view of the forward portion of an endless crawler track; and

FIG. 9 is a front elevational view of the machine showing its use with pre-erected forms.

Referring to the drawings which show a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the distributing machine shown in FIGS. 14 includes generally a rectangular frame 15 having a forward truss section 17 and rear truss section 19 which are adapted to span or extend transversely across the prepared subg-rade or roadbed 20 on which the concrete pavement 22 is constructed. As one example, soil cement was prepared and used as a satisfactory roadbed, however, compacted soil is more commonly used.

Extending between the forward truss section 17 and the rear truss section 19 are sloping side members 25 which cooperate with the truss sections to define a cen tral rectangular opening 28 (FIGS. 1 and 3). The truss sections 17 and 19 may be extended or shortened by adjusting the position of the respective telescopic end portions 31 and 32 by the bolts 33 which enables the machine to be used for constructing pavements of various widths, as for example, from 20 to 25 feet.

The forward truss section 17 of the frame 15 supports a power supply unit 35 such as a gasoline engine which drives the hydraulic pumps (not shown) for controlling through hydraulic motors and cylinders the various movements and adjustments of the machine as is explained in detail in the above mentioned patent. The controls for forward and reverse movement of the machine as well as the controls for the machine components can be operated from the control console 37 mounted on the forward truss section 17 and the platform 38 is provided to support the operator.

A hopper 40 having sloping or converging bottom walls 42 is mounted within the opening 28 and is adapted to travel back and forth on the support rails 43 between the side members 25 for traversing the roadbed. The sloping bottom walls 42 of the hopper are adapted to define a longitudinally extending elongated discharge outlet 46 (FIG. 3) which is adjustable in size by operation of the hydraulic pressure cylinders 47 (FIG. 4) as is disclosed and explained in the above mentioned patent.

Mounted below each of the downwardly sloping side members 25 and rigidly connecting the truss sections 17 and 19 is a support rail 50 (FIG. 5) which includes a pair of spaced apart parallel channel members 52. The

rails extending along each side of the machine support the forward sprocket (FIG. 8) and rear sprockets 57 (FIG. 6) which cooperate with the rails to support an endless articulated crawler track 60 on each side of the frame 15. As shown in FIG. 8, each endless track 60 includes a series of links 62 which are pivotally connected by pins 63. Each pin 63 extends through adjoining links 62 to support a pair of rollers 65. As shown in FIG. 5, the rollers 65 support the machine by engaging the bottom surface of the channel members'52 along the lower reach portion 67 (FIG. 2) of the track 60 and are supported by the top edge of the channel members 52 along the upper reach portion 69 of the track.

Mounted on each of the links 62 is a rectangular shaped track pad 72. Adjacent pads are spaced apart as shown in FIG. 8 so that the track can make a reverse bend around the resilient idler wheels or rollers one of which is mounted close to the front sprocket 55 on the shaft 56 and another close to the rear sprocket 57 (FIG. 7). As can be seen from FIG. 8, this construction enables the upper reach portion 69 of the track 60 to be spaced close to the lower reach portion 67 to provide space for the sloping side members 25 spaced directly above each of the upper reaches 69 of the tracks 60 as shown in FIG. 5.

By maintaining the upper reach portion 69 of the track 60 at a relatively low elevation and close to the lower reach portion 67, it can be seen that the hopper 40 can be positioned adjacent the track 60 at either end of the opening 28 so that the corresponding sloping bottom wall 42 of the hopper can be positioned adjacent the sloping side member 25 (FIG. 4). This construction enables the upper portion of the hopper to extend outwardly above the track 60 so that a supply track can be conveniently positioned adjacent the hopper 40 and the concrete can be dumped directly into the hopper.

Each of the tracks 60 is driven separately through the rear sprocket 57 (FIG. 6) and the chain sprocket mounted on the outer end of the shaft 82 which is keyed to the sprocket 55 and is rotatably mounted in the bearings 83. A chain 84 (FIG. 6) connects the sprocket 80 to a drive sprocket 86 (FIG. 7) mounted on the outer end of the drive shaft 88 which extends through the idler wheel 75 and bearings 89 from a gearbox 90 driven by a reversible hydraulic motor 91. The gearbox 90 and motor 91 are supported from an overhead frame member 92 forming part of the rear truss section 19. As shown in FIG. 3, the tracks 60 are driven separately by two reversible hydraulic motors 91 to provide control over the direction and speed of travel of the machine by varying the speed of each motor from the control console 37.

Adjustment for controlling the tension of each crawler track 60 is provided by mounting the forward sprocket 7 55 (FIG. 8) on a shaft 94 which is carried on each side of the sprocket by a support block 95 slidably mounted on guideways 97 rigidly connected to the support rail-s 50(Adjustment of the shaft 94 is provided by the threaded rod 101 which extends rearwardly from the block 95 through the frame member 102 to receive a pair of adjusting nuts 103 spaced on the opposite sides of the frame member 102.

Referring to FIG. 5, adjoining the lower edge of the sloping side members 25 and rigidly connected to the inside channel member 52 is a vertically positioned form member which extends substantially the full length of the rail 50 past the rear sprocket 57 as shown in FIG. 2. Preferably, the bottom edge 111 of the form member 110 is spaced slightly above the bottom surface of the track pads 72 which provides for a slight clearance between the form member 110 and the roadbed 20. Thus as the machine travels along the roadbed on the crawler tracks 60, the form member 110 on each side of the machine slides along the outer edges of the concrete pavem a 2 Since the form members 110 do not extend behind the machine, it has been found desirable to force or push the concrete firmly against the inside surfaces of the form members 110. This is accomplished by the lateral movement of the hopper 40 as the concrete is discharged out of the bottom opening 46. Thus, the weight of the concrete in the hopper cooperates with the downward side thrust provided by the hopper sloping side walls 42 to force the concrete against the form members 110 and thereby increase the density of the concrete adjacent the form members. Furthermore, as illustrated in FIG. 7, the concrete distributed by the hopper 40 can be distributed in layers whereby the bottom layer 22a serves to space the reinforcing steel 1112 and is held short of the form members 110. The top layer 22b is then forced by the hopper 40 into the space between the bottom layer 22a and the form member 110 so that a dense and uniform mixture of concrete is in contact with the form members.

Extending between the form members 110 and sup ported by the rear truss section 19 is a screed member 113 (FIG. 1) which is set according to the elevation of the discharge opening of the hopper 40 to smooth the top of the concrete pavement 22. As described in the above mentioned patents, the screed member 113 .is

adapted to be adjusted vertically along with the hopper 40 to provide various thicknesses or layers of concrete.

a sloping or crown top surface on the pavement 22.

As shown in FIG. 9, the distributing machine according to the present invention may also be used to spread concrete between rail forms 115 which have been preerected on the roadbed 20. This is accomplished simply by extending the end portions 31 and 32 of the truss sec.- tions 17 and 19, respectively, so that the crawler tracks 60 are positioned outwardly of the forms 115. The screed member 113 is then adjusted vertically until the lower edge of the screed member floats along the top edge of the forms 115.

As can be seen from the drawings and the above description, the distributing machine of the present invention provides several desirable features and advantages. Basically, the machine of the invention is adapted to distribute flowable material such as concrete between the form members 110 carried by the machine in such a manner that the concrete is pushed or packed firmly against the form members 110. This increases the density of the concrete and thereby prevents shifting or slumping of the concrete after the form members moved forward on the roadbed with the machine. Thus by precisely controlling the wetness of the concrete at a central mixing plant, it has been found unnecessary to use either pre-erected forms or extended slip forms which trail the machine.

Furthermore, by directing the upper reach portion .69 of the track 60 downwardly around the idler wheels 75, the hopper 40 can be positioned adjacent either of the sloping side members 25 above a track 60 for conveniently receiving premixed concrete directly from supply trucks.

As another feature, the slip-form distributing machine according to the invention can be easily converted for distributing concrete between pre-erected forms. Also, the machine can be used to distribute the concrete in layers so that the concrete adjacent the full area of the form members will be uniform and consistent and will be of somewhat higher density so that it will not shift, sag or slump after the form members are advanced with the machine.

While the form of apparatus herein described constitutes a preferred embodiment of the invention, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to this precise form of apparatus, and that changes may be made therein without departing from the scope of the invention which is defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. An improved machine for distributing flowable material such as concrete along a prepared roadbed Without requiring pre-erected rail-like forms and being adapted to receive material directly from supply trucks adjacent either side of the machine, said machine comprising a frame defining a generally rectangular opening adapted to extend transversely across the roadbed, a pair of parallel spaced support rails mounted on said frame and adapted to extend longitudinally along opposite sides of the roadbed, an endless articulated track mounted on each said rail, each said track including pivotally connected links and track pads, at least one roller connected to each said link for engaging the corresponding said rail, front and rear sprockets for each said track, means connected to each said rail and supporting the corresponding said sprocket in alignment with said rail, a snub roller supported adjacent each said sprocket for engaging said track pads to direct each said track more than 180 around each said sprocket for positioning the upper reach portion of each said track close to the lower reach portion to provide said track with a low overall height along said opening, means for mounting said track pads on each said track in spaced apart relationship so that said tracks can make a reverse bend around said snub rollers, power supply means carried by said frame and connected for driving said tracks through said rear sprockets, a form member connected rigidly to each said rail and said form members spaced in parallel relationship for defining parallel vertical surfaces adjacent the roadbed along the inward portions of said tracks, a hopper mounted for traversing movement within said opening and including a portion extending outwardly above said upper reach of each said track when said hopper is positioned adjacent said track, and means defining a longitudinally extending elongated discharge outlet in the bottom of said hopper for spreading the material at a predetermined elevation between said form members as said hopper traverses within said opening.

2. A machine as defined in claim 1 wherein each said snub roller includes an idler wheel having a resilient outer surface for engaging said track pads to direct the upper reach of said track downwardly close to the bottom reach and thereby provide space above the track for conveniently loading said hopper.

3. A machine as defined in claim 1 wherein said power supply means comprises a hydraulic motor driven gearbox for each said track, shaft means connected to each said gearbox and supporting the corresponding said snub roller adjacent said rear sprocket, and chain drive means connecting said shaft means to the corresponding rear sprocket.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,026,241 12/1935 McC-rery 9446 2,154,377 4/1939 Cory 305-20 X 2,789,485 4/1957 Lindgren 9446 2,976,783 3/1961 Perkins 9446 X 3,015,257 1/1962 Apel et a1. 9445 3,043,221 7/1962 Maxon 9446 JACOB L. NACKENOFF, Primary Examiner.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3,343,469 September 26, 1967 James E. Ingle It is hereby certified that error appears in the above numbered patent requiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read as corrected below.

In the heading to the printed specification, lines 4 and 5, for "Maxson Construction Company, Inc." read Maxon Construction Company, Inc. column 6, line 30, for "3,043,221 7/1962 Maxon" read 3,043,201 7/1962 Maxon, Jr.

Signed and sealed this 17th day of December 1968.

(SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD J. BRENNER Commissioner of Patents Edward M. Fletcher, J r.

Attesting Officer 

1. AN IMPROVED MACHINE FOR DISTRIBUTING FLOWABLE MATERIAL SUCH AS CONCRETE ALONG A PREPARED ROADBED WITHOUT REQUIRING PRE-ERECTED RAIL-LIKE FORMNS AND BEING ADAPTED TO RECEIVE MATERIAL DIRECTLY FROM SUPPLY TRUCKS ADJACENT EITHER SIDE OF THE MACHINE, SAID MACHINE COMPRISING A FRAME DEFINING A GENERALLY RECTANGULAR OPENING ADAPTED TO EXTEND TRANSVERSELY ACROSS THE ROADBED, A PAIR OF PARALLEL SPACED SUPPORT RAILS MOUNTED ON SAID FRAME AND ADAPTED TO EXTEND LONGITUDINALLY ALONG OPPOSITE SIDES OF THE ROADBED, AN ENDLESS ARTICULATED TRACK MOUNTED ON EACH SAID RAIL, EACH SAID TRACK INCLUDING PIVOTALLY CONNECTED LINKS AND TRACK PADS, AT LEAST ONE ROLLER CONNECTED TO EACH SAID LINK FOR ENGAGING THE CORRESPONDING SAID RAIL, FRONT AND REAR SPROCKETS FOR EACH SAID TRACK, EMANS CONNECTED TO EACH SAID RAIL AND SUPPORTING THE CORRESPONDING SAID SPROCKET IN ALIGNMENT WITH SAID RAIL, A SNUB ROLLER SUPPORTED ADJACENT EACH SAID SPROCKET FOR ENGAGING SAID TRACK PADS TO DIRECT EACH SAID TRACK MORE THAN 180* AROUND EACH SAID SPROCKET FOR POSITIONING THE UPPER REACH PORTION TO EACH SAID TRACK CLOSE TO THE LOWER REACH PORTION TO PROVIDE SAID TRACK WITH A LOW OVERALL HEIGHT ALONG SAID OPENING, MEANS FOR MOUNTING SAID TRACKS PADS ON EACH SAID TRACK IN SPACED APART RELATIONSHIP SO THAT SAID TRACKS CAN MAKE A REVERSE BEND AROUND SAID SNUB ROLLERS, POWER 